Category Archives: Killing a Villain in a Novel

When Sleep is Not Possible

We all need sleep to survive. Sleep is a natural process that allows the body to recharge, refresh and prepare (both physically and psychologically) for a new day of adventure. Scientists understand the chemistry that causes us to become sleepy—the … Continue reading

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, Abnormal Protein Invasion of the Brain, About James J. Murray, About Murder, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Choosing How a Character Should Die in a Story, Creating Unique and Interesting Character Flaws, Deciding How to Kill Off a Character in a Novel, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Drugs For Murder Plots, Fatal Brain Infections, Fatal Familial Insomnia, Fatal Insomnia, How To Write A BloodLess Murder Scene, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Insomnia, Insomnia Diseases, James J. Murray Blog, Killing a Villain in a Novel, Killing Off Characters in Writing, Lethal Insomnia, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Prescription For Murder Blog, Prion Linked Diseases, Prion-Associated Diseases, Prions and Murder, Prions and Neurological Degeneration, Prions and The Science of Murder, Sporadic Fatal Insomnia, The Walking Dead, Unique Murder Plots | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lethal Adrenaline Rush

Adrenaline is our friend! It’s one of those hormones that floods our bodies when we severely injure ourselves, feel afraid, or do strenuous exercise. It’s known as “the fight or flight hormone” (along with some help from norepinephrine and dopamine). … Continue reading

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Whey is Way Cool These Days!

Whey, the tart liquid by-product when making cheese and yogurt, is often sold as a protein source in many nutritional supplements used for bodybuilding and in meal replacement products. It’s also used to enrich baked goods and to produce bread … Continue reading

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The Drugs Women Use To Kill

Women are more sedate killers! Statistics indicate that only 39% of killers using a gun to murder their victims are women, and women are six times more likely to use a poison or a drug to kill (2.5% for women … Continue reading

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Got Milk or Brucellosis?

I’ve often blogged about biological weapons—both those used in the past and those with potential for use in your new thriller plots. The world’s population has certainly been victim to biological warfare in the past. In 184 BC, Hannibal’s warriors … Continue reading

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TOXIDROMES: Solving The Poison Puzzle

The murders that occur in my novels and short stories often involve a lethal medicine or a poison. To create a believable plot, I make sure to do my homework to get the toxic effects of those substances correct. That’s … Continue reading

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Mad As A Hatter!

More than 200 years ago, hat making was a profitable business, but it could also be a deadly one! The furs used to make felt hats were dipped in a preservative made with mercury nitrate solutions. The soaking also helped … Continue reading

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LADY KILLERS’ PHARMACEUTICALS

 ~ Female Murderers are the Exception! ~ That’s what I found out when an author friend asked me to guest blog on her “Profiles of Murder” blog site this week. Diane Kratz is a crime fiction writer who holds three … Continue reading

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Hydrofluoric Acid – The Flesh Eater

Last week’s blog was about an interesting acid that’s corrosive enough to destroy DNA evidence. A whimsical Facebook post—as a joke—by one of my friends regarding “how to get rid of the body in the basement” made me think of … Continue reading

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, A How To Blog on Murder Weapons, About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, All About Murder, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Bloodless Death Scenes, Breaking Bad Acids, Breaking Bad Poisons, Chemical Poisons, Chemicals Used For Murder, Difficult to Solve Murders, Dramatic Murder Weapons, Flesh Eating Acids, How To Write A BloodLess Murder Scene, Hydrofluoric Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid and Murder, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Interesting Murder Weapons, James J. Murray Blog, Killing a Villain in a Novel, Killing Off Characters in Your Novel, Lethal Chemical Poisons, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Weapons, New Blog, New Methods of Murder, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, The Science of Murder, Tools of Murder, Unique Murder Weapons, Ways to Murder, Writing Dramatic Murder Scenes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Perchloric Acid – A Versatile Murder Weapon!

Unique lethal compounds fascinate me and, as a medical thriller writer, I’m constantly on the search for new methods of murder. Today, I’d like to discuss a most interesting chemical—perchloric acid. It has deadly potential in a number of ways … Continue reading

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